Keno lottery number generator

ABSTRACT

A universal random number generator for placing a bets in a variety of lottery number games comprising: a generally rectangular transparent casing for supporting a drinking vessel having a vertical outer wall for confining spillage from said drinking vessel, a set of numbered disks, a series of traps for capturing some of the numbered disks and a mask in covering relationship to the numbered disks. The mask has a window for exposing some of the numbered disks in one of the traps when the generator is shaken. The number generator is adapted to a specific lottery by providing a pre-assigned number of disks and mask with a pre-assigned window size.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to games of chance and more particularly to acombination beverage coaster and universal number generator for placingbets in Keno and other lottery number games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The first recorded evidence of a lottery number game are Keno slips inthe Chinese Han Dynasty between 205 and 187 B.C. In 1776 the ContinentalCongress sold lottery tickets to finance the Revolutionary War. At theend of the Revolutionary War various States used lotteries to raisefunds for public projects.

In lottery number games players fill out betting slips with numbers thatare matched against numbers by spinning wheels or drawing numbered ballsdrawn from rotating cylinders. Keno is frequently played in restaurantsand bars. A player can win as much as $2,000,000 with a $20 wager.Chinese immigrants introduced Keno into the U.S. when they worked on theAmerican trans-continental railroad during the 19th century. There arevariations in Keno Lotteries, but in each variation a player entersnumbers in betting slips with the hope of matching numbers that aredrawn from a set of 80 during a play.

A typical Keno game consists of the following steps. The first stepconsists of selecting a spot a player wishes to wager. A spot designatesa series of numbers from one to ten the player desires to match. Forexample, a 3 spot requires a player to match 3 numbers to win a firstprize. If he matches less than 3, say 2, a smaller prize is usuallyawarded. For large spots, say an 8 spot, prizes are awarded formatching, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 numbers.

The next step is to enter the selected spot on a pre-paid or later paidbetting slip and turn in the betting slip to a bartender or waitress.After the betting slip is turned in a spot is randomly drawn by aspinning a wheel or a drawing of balls with 1× to 10× spots. If thenumbers on the drawn spot matches the players numbers, the player winsthe first place prize, or a lesser prize if a fewer numbers are matched.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the invention is to provide an easy-to-use randomnumber generator for placing bets in lotteries. Another objective is toprovide a random number generator which can be used as a beveragecoaster in a bar or restaurant. Another object is to provide a universalnumber generator for placing bets in a variety of Keno or otherlotteries. For achieving these ends a random number generator isprovided which is comprised of a casing, a plurality of small circularnumbered disks stored in the casing and a mask overlying the numbereddisks. One benefit of the invention is that with minor changes it can beused to select numbers for a variety of Keno and other lottery games. Acharacteristic feature of the present invention is that traps arepositioned around a periphery of a casing that are uncovered to exposelottery numbers.

The casing is divided into transparent upper and a lower half portions.In the lower half portion are a series of trap for capturing some of thenumbered disks when the generator is shaken. In a first embodiment,masks are provided on outer surfaces of the upper half and lower halvesof the casing for exposing spots through windows in the masks.

In a second embodiment, a mask is provided on only the upper halfportion of the casing for viewing odd and even spots through a one ormore windows in a mask.

In employing the teaching of the present invention, a plurality ofalternate constructions can be provided to achieve the desired resultsand capabilities. In this disclosure, some alternate constructions arediscussed. However, these embodiments are intended as examples, andshould not be considered as limiting.

Further features and benefits of the invention will be apparent from theensuing description and accompanying drawings which describe theinvention in detail. A preferred embodiment is disclosed in accordancewith the best mode which is contemplated for practicing the inventionand the specific features in which exclusive property rights are claimedare set forth in each of the numbered claims which are appended to thedetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a Keno number generator according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the random number generator.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the Keno number generator.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the Keno number generator with a beverageglass.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a second alternate embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like andcorresponding parts throughout the several views, a combination beveragecoaster and random number generator 20 for placing bets in a Keno gameis shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, inclusive. The combination coaster andnumber generator 20 is comprised of a generally rectangular shapedcasing 21, a pair of masks 22 on opposite faces of the casing 21 and aspecified number of circular disks 23. The circular disks 23 havenumbers on opposite sides of the disks 23.

The casings 21 consist of upper 24 and lower 25 horizontal planar halfportions with short vertical 26 peripheral portions joined together bysonic welding, an adhesive or other available means to provide a cavity33 for storing the numbered disks 33 and horizontal surfaces 27 forsupporting drinking glasses 28. The vertical portions 26 confinespillage to the coaster 20. Extending along the periphery on each of thefour sides of the casing lower half portion 25 are traps 29 forcapturing some of the numbered disks 23. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, thetraps 29 consist of linear arrangements of adjoining arcuate pockets 30.

The masks 22 cover the numbered disks 23, except for exposing disks 31in windows 32 in the masks 22. In FIGS. 1 through 7, the windows 32 arearranged to view odd spots, namely 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 through windows inthe upper casing portion 24 and even spots through windows, namely 2, 4,6, 8 and 10, on opposite sides of the disks 23 when the coaster 20 isinverted.

The masks 22 can have several forms. One form consists of transparentlabels 22 with opaque graphics adhesively applied to the upper 24 andlower casings 25 or printed graphics on the outer upper 24 and lowerhalf 25 portions. 37, 4, 15, 46, 22

With reference to FIG. 7, an embodiment 34 is shown for odd and evenspots with a single mask 22 on the upper half portion 24. A series ofnumbered vertical bars 35 are inscribed in on the mask 22 above a window32 through which 10 disks 23 are exposed. By way of example in FIG. 7, aseven spot is designated by the numbers 37, 4, 15, 46, 22, 19 and 51;and a five spot is designated by the numbers 37, 4, 15, 46 and 22. Inthis embodiment, only a single trap 29 and numbers on one side of thedisks 23 are necessary.

In FIG. 8, an embodiment 36 is shown wherein lottery numbers aregenerated for Daily 3 and Daily 4 lotteries. It should be noted thatalthough a only single trap is required for the embodiments 34, 36 shownin FIGS. 7 and 8, the traps 29 as the earlier described embodiment 20can be used.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that our invention provides auniversal, easy to use number generator for selecting lottery numbersthat is neither anticipated nor obvious over the prior art. Oneimportant feature is that it can apply with minor modifications to allof a State's lotteries. By providing multiple traps, alternate masks,different amounts of numbered disks, the generator may be used fordifferent lotteries.

Although only two embodiments of our invention have been described it isfurther obvious that other embodiments can be derived after studying ourdisclosure, by such changes as providing a generator with a single trap,mask and set of disks, substitution of parts, changes in shape andinversion of elements without departing from the spirit thereof.

1. A random number generator for placing a bets in a variety of lotterynumber games, said number generator comprising: a generally rectangularshaped casing, said casing having a transparent upper portion and anadjoining lower portion, said upper portion having a horizontal planarportion for supporting a drinking vessel and a short vertical wallaround a periphery of said upper portion for confining spillage fromsaid drinking vessel to said horizontal portion, said lower portionhaving a horizontal planar portion for supporting a drinking vessel whensaid generator is inverted and a short vertical wall around a peripheryof said lower portion for spacing said horizontal portion away from saidhorizontal wall of said upper portion for storing numbered disks andconfining spillage from said drinking vessel to said inverted horizontalportion and a series of traps adjacent to the outer sides of said lowerportion for capturing numbered disks; a set of disks on opposite sidesof said generator, each of said disks having a number on one side ofsaid disk; and a mask in covering relationship to said numbered disks,said mask having a window for exposing some of said numbered disks inone of said traps.
 2. The random number generator recited in claim 1wherein said lower casing portion is transparent, said disks havingidentical numbers on opposite sides of said disks, said generatorfurther comprising a second mask in covering relationship to saidnumbered disks when said generator is inverted, said second mask havinga window for exposing some of said numbered disks in one of said traps.3. The random number generator recited in claim 1 wherein said mask isadhesively applied to an outside surface of said upper casing portion.4. The random number generator recited in claim 1 wherein said mask isadhesively applied to an inner surface of said upper casing portion. 5.The random number generator recited in claim 1 wherein said mask isprinted on an outer surface of said upper casing portion.
 6. The randomnumber generator recited in claim 1 wherein said mask is printed on aninner surface of said upper casing portion.
 7. A random number generatorfor placing a bets in a variety of lottery number games, said numbergenerator comprising: a generally rectangular transparent casing forsupporting a drinking vessel in upright and inverted positions; avertical outer wall for confining spillage from said drinking vessel toat least one of said supporting positions and a trap in an interior ofsaid casing adjacent to each side of said rectangular transparent casingfor capturing numbered disks when said casing is shaken; a set ofnumbered disks in said interior of said number generator; and a mask incovering relationship to said numbered disks, said mask having a windowfor exposing some of said numbered disks in said traps.
 8. The randomnumber generator recited in claim 7 wherein each of said disks haveidentical numbers on opposite sides of said disk,
 9. The random numbergenerator recited in claim 8 further comprising a second mask, saidsecond mask having a window for exposing some of said numbered disks insaid traps when said generator is inverted.
 10. The random numbergenerator recited in claim 7 further comprising a second widow forexposing additional numbered disks in said traps.
 11. A random numbergenerator for placing bets in a variety of lottery number games, saidnumber generator comprising: a generally rectangular transparent casinga series of traps in an interior of said casing for capturing numbereddisks when said casing is shaken; a set of numbered disks in saidinterior of said number generator; and a mask in covering relationshipto said numbered disks, said mask having a window for exposing numbereddisks in one of said traps.